Meet Religion Unplugged’s Joseph Holmes: Faith-Based Movies Get A Tough Critic
Film and culture critic Joseph Holmes knows a good movie when he sees one — but he hardly ever sees one. At least that’s the running joke among Religion Unplugged staff.
In an era of influencers who get comp tickets to give glowing reviews, overwhelming review websites like Rotten Tomatoes and an eye-boggling number of direct-to-streaming films available from the comfort of your own home, Holmes’ reviews fill a unique niche.
He helps viewers interested in faith-based films know what to watch. Or more often, what not to watch, by detailing plot holes, lazy editing or poor acting. Holmes cheers on the faith-based films while simultaneously holding them to high standards.
“Either [movies] are made by Hollywood filmmakers who understand film but not faith, or they are made by Christians who understand faith — at least a romanticized view of faith — but not film,” he said. “One of the primary themes of my work is to hold both sides accountable to make accurate and quality representations of faith. Sometimes that means critiquing its quality, sometimes that means critiquing its accuracy.”
Readers seem to appreciate his candid reviews and industry insights: Holmes’ articles are among the most widely read on the website.
Holmes, who is also an award-nominated filmmaker, has written regularly for Religion Unplugged since 2020. Over the years, his reviews have followed the arc of contemporary Christian media and faith-based films from the outskirts of mainstream consciousness to increasingly garnering significant investments from startup and established production companies alike.
He was among the first to spot the trend of large numbers of men returning to the Christian faith, which subsequently influenced the kinds of movies the faith-based film industry creates.
“Faith and film are two of the most influential storytelling mediums in the world, so it's vital to understand how they are shaping us,” Holmes, who is based in New York, said. “Religion Unplugged gives its writers the freedom to provide the most in-depth analysis of these important topics that you will find online.”
Holmes is among a team of rotating critics, guest reviewers and reporters who provide news, context and analysis on the role of religion in modern culture. Within the last quarter alone, Religion Unplugged has published articles:
— Reviewing a new book on Islamic History
— Analyzing what the musician Bad Bunny has in common with Puerto Rican Muslims
— Chronicling the fallout and alleged antisemitism following an international soccer game
— Highlighting Pope Leo’s ever-growing sports jersey collection
Religion is everywhere in our world, and culture is no exception. Here at Religion Unplugged, we take faith in the public square seriously and aim to help readers understand the world around them.
If you find our work insightful, helpful or even entertaining, please consider donating to our NewsMatch fund. Every tax-deductible donation you make now through Dec. 31 will be doubled, up to $35,000. That means your gift has twice the power to support independent, high-quality journalism at a time when it’s never been needed more.
Your contribution guarantees that Holmes and his colleagues can continue to produce great journalism.
Cassidy Grom is the managing editor of Religion Unplugged. Her award-winning reporting and digital design work have appeared in numerous publications.